Tokyo 1964 Collection

First in Asia

The 1964 Tokyo Games were the first to be held in Asia. The carrier of the flame, Yoshinori Sakai, was chosen because he was born on 6 August 1945, the day the atomic bomb exploded in Hiroshima, in homage to the victims and as a call for world peace.

Evolving technology

A cinder running track was used for the last time in the athletics events, whilst a fibreglass pole was used for the first time in the pole vaulting competition. The Tokyo Games was also the last occasion that hand timing by stopwatch was used for official timing.

Memorable champions

Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia became the first athlete to win the marathon twice, whilst Soviet gymnast Larysa Latynina brought her career medal total to an incredible 18. It also proved fourth time lucky for Greco-Roman wrestler Imre Polyak, who finally won gold after finishing second in the same division at the previous three Olympic Games.

Olympic spirit

The first official Fair Play Trophy for setting an outstanding example of sportsmanship was awarded to Swedish yachtsmen Lars Gunnar Käll and Stig Lennart Käll. The Swedes gave up their race to come to the aid of two other competitors whose boat had sunk.

NOCs 93
Athletes 5,151 (678 women, 4,473 men)
Events 163
Volunteers n/a
Media n/a

Homage and symbolism

The carrier of the flame, Yoshinori Sakai, was chosen because he was born on 6 August 1945, the day the atomic bomb exploded in Hiroshima, in homage to the victims and as a call for peace in the world.

Fair play rewarded

Swedish yachtsmen Lars Gunnar Käll and Stig Lennart Käll were the first recipients of the Tokyo Trophy for setting an outstanding example of sportsmanship when they gave up their race to save the life of a fellow competitor.

Honour to Japan

Japan wanted to show the world its talent for organisation. It success earned it three awards from the International Olympic Committee- the Olympic Cup, the Bonacossa Trophy and the "Diploma of Merit".

The end of a type of running track

A cinder running track was used for the last time in the athletics events.

The first time in Asia

It was the first time the Olympic Games were given to an Asian country.

New on the programme

Appearance of two new sports- judo (men) and volleyball (men and women).

A team sport for women

The first appearance of a team sport for women- volleyball

An innovation in pole vaulting

The first time a fibreglass pole was used in the polevaulting competition.

Ceremonies

Tokyo 24 October 1964. Ceremony of closure. The delegations enter the Olympic Stadium. Here Zambia and Japan.

Official opening of the Games by: The Emperor Hirohito

Lighting the Olympic Flame by: Yoshinori Sakaï, a student born on 6 August 1945, the day the atomic bomb exploded in Hiroshima

Olympic Oath by: Takashi Ono (artistic gymnastics)

Official Oath by: The officials' oath at an Olympic Summer Games was first sworn in 1972 in Munich.